IoT Safety Ecosystem for Electrical Hazard Mitigation

Abstract

Conventional electrical protection relies on basic overcurrent detection, leaving low-voltage networks vulnerable to unseen hazards like localized thermal degradation and stray voltage. This research introduces a multi-parameter hazard mitigation system based on the Internet of Things (IoT) to overcome this significant deficiency. The architecture employs an ESP32 microcontroller along with sensors for current (ACS712), temperature (DHT11), flammable gas (MQ-2), and a custom electromagnetic field probe for non-contact stray voltage detection. This design’s primary benefit is its dual- layer protection: local control logic functions autonomously from the Blynk IoT cloud, ensuring rapid circuit isolation during internet disruptions. MATLAB/Simulink validations confirm that the system reliably identifies asymmetrical short circuits and dangerous enclosure voltages, issuing a control trip command in approximately 4 milliseconds, initiating rapid physical disconnection to prevent equipment damage and fatal injuries.